Tendulkar strained his right hamstring in Saturday's one-day international victory over South Africa and was forced to fly home early.

The 37-year-old is the world's top run scorer in ODIs with 17,629 runs, including 46 hundreds and 93 fifties.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are co-hosts for the World Cup, which will be held between 19 February and 2 April.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Praveen Kumar, who are sitting out the current series against South Africa because of injury, have also been named in India's squad.

India's chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth said: "I am not worried at all about the injuries, these are part of the game.

"I am confident the team will be fully fit when the World Cup starts."

Wicketkeeper MS Dhoni will captain the side, with India's opening match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 19 February.

Indian selectors have named two extra spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Piyush Chawla, in addition to Harbhajan Singh but have opted to leave out batsman Rohit Sharma.

"Spinners will play a major role," said Srikkanth. "This team has been doing brilliantly in the last few years.

Expectations are high among India fans that their team will lift the trophy in Mumbai.

"Of course, there will be tremendous pressure on the players," added Srikanth. "I really pity them! Let's hope and pray that the team wins the World Cup."

He may also be praying for the fitness of Tendulkar.